Efe Obada (born April 13, 1992) is a Nigerian

gridiron football Gridiron football,"Gridiron football"
''Encyclopædia Britannica''. Ret ...

defensive end Defensive end (DE) is a defensive position in the sport of gridiron football. This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations over the years have substantially changed how the position is p ...

for the

Washington Commanders The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) ...

of the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ma ...

(NFL). He was raised in the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

and

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe ...

and was the first player to go straight from a European football league to the NFL. Obada has been a member of the London Warriors,

Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East divis ...

Kansas City Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The t ...

, Atlanta Falcons,

Carolina Panthers The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers compete in the National Football League (NFL), as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. ...

, and

Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division ...

Early years

Born in

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of G ...

, Obada and his family later moved to the

. At the age of 10, he and his sister were trafficked into

and were left homeless as soon as they arrived in

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

. They initially slept in an office block before living in 10 different

foster home Foster care is a system in which a minor has been placed into a ward, group home ( residential child care community, treatment center, etc.), or private home of a state-certified caregiver, referred to as a "foster parent" or with a family ...

s. He eventually began work as a security guard at Grace Foods in

Welwyn Garden City Welwyn Garden City ( ) is a town in Hertfordshire, England, north of London. It was the second garden city in England (founded 1920) and one of the first new towns (designated 1948). It is unique in being both a garden city and a new town an ...

Professional career

London Warriors

Obada signed with the London Warriors of the

BAFA National Leagues The BAFANL (BAFA National Leagues) are the primary American football domestic League competition in Great Britain. The League is run by the British American Football Association to coordinate contact football within England, Scotland and Wales ...

in 2014, where he played in five games as a

tight end The tight end (TE) is a position in American football, arena football, and Canadian football, on the offense (sports), offense. The tight end is often a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide ...

and

Dallas Cowboys

Based on a recommendation from Warriors

defensive coordinator A defensive coordinator is a coach responsible for a gridiron football (American football) team's defense. Generally, the defensive coordinator, the offensive coordinator and the special teams coordinator represent the second level of a team's c ...

Aden Durde Aden Durde (born July 10, 1979) is a former American football linebacker, and is currently the defensive line coach of the Dallas Cowboys. He is also known for being an integral part of the International Player Pathway program. Professional car ...

, who previously served as an intern coach with the

, Obada was given the opportunity to work out for the team days before the Cowboys' game against the

Jacksonville Jaguars The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) South division. The team pla ...

. Although he did not have much experience, he was signed on April 1, 2015. In rookie mini-camp, he was tried on the first days at

, before the team decided to move him to

, where the learning curve would not be as steep. He was waived on September 5. On September 23, 2015, he was signed to the Cowboys' practice squad. He was released on October 7, but rejoined the practice squad on December 2. He was waived on March 2, 2016.

Kansas City Chiefs

Obada was signed by the

on March 9, 2016. He was released by the team on June 7.

Atlanta Falcons

On July 28, 2016, he was signed by the Atlanta Falcons. He was waived on August 27.

Carolina Panthers

file:Efe Obada 2019 (cropped).jpg, 200px, Obada with the

in 2019. On May 25, 2017, Obada was signed by the

through the NFL's International Player Pathway Program. He was waived by the Panthers on September 1, 2017, and was re-signed to the practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract with the Panthers on January 8, 2018. After a strong preseason, Obada became the first player from the NFL International Player Pathway program to make a 53-man roster. In Week 3, against the Cincinnati Bengals, Obada played his first regular season game, where he had one sack and one interception. He was later awarded the game ball, and was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week. He finished the season with eight combined tackles and two sacks. On January 23, 2019, Obada signed a one-year contract extension with the Panthers. On October 13, 2019, Obada was made an honorary captain for the Panthers' NFL London Game vs. the

Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South divisio ...

at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as part of a very emotional day for him. On January 6, 2020, Obada signed a one-year contract extension with the Panthers. He was waived on September 6, 2020, but re-signed with the team the next day. In Week 3 of the 2020 season against the

Los Angeles Chargers The Los Angeles Chargers are a professional American football team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Chargers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) West division, and ...

, Obada recovered a fumble lost by wide receiver Keenan Allen on the last play of the game to secure a 21–16 win for the Panthers.

Buffalo Bills

On April 19, 2021, Obada signed a one-year deal with the

. He recorded 3.5 sacks with 12 tackles in 10 games.

Washington Commanders

Obada signed with the

on March 23, 2022.

NFL career statistics

References

External links

*
Washington Commanders bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Obada, Efe Living people 1992 births English players of American football Sportspeople from London American football defensive ends Nigerian players of American football Dallas Cowboys players Kansas City Chiefs players Atlanta Falcons players Carolina Panthers players Buffalo Bills players Washington Commanders players International Player Pathway Program participants Expatriate players of American football English expatriate sportspeople in the United States